State police: Trooper almost struck by wrong-way driver

Staff report

For the second time in a month, Illinois State Police stopped a suspected drunk driver speeding the wrong way on the Kennedy Expressway.

Luckily for the other early-morning motorists, the driver stopped at about 1:45 a.m. today only drove about one mile-- unlike the 11-mile Dec. 15 jaunt -- before state police stopped him near the Irving Park exit, authorities said.

The driver apparently got on the Kennedy traveling inbound on the expressway's outbound lanes, according to Master Sgt. Joseph Stangl.

No injuries were reported, although the unidentified motorist almost struck a state police squad car that was making an unrelated traffic stop near Kostner Avenue, authorities said.

The trooper was attempting to curb another motorist, who eventually pulled over to the left shoulder of the road. As that motorist pulled over, the trooper, who was driving in the far left lane noticed another vehicle "speeding toward him," said Trooper Mark Hall.

Eventually, the wrong-way driver slowed his speed, but continued traveling inbound by driving around the trooper's car, Hall said. The trooper performed a U-turn and stopped the driver.

The motorist was stopped and arrested for possible DUI. He was also looking at citations for driving the wrong way, not having insurance, not wearing his seat belt and failure to yield, Hall said.